Rams vs. Bengals: The best player prop bets for Super Bowl LVI

Super Bowl LVI will feature a battle of old talent vs. new, as the veteran-laden Los Angeles Rams clash with a young and budding Cincinnati Bengals squad on Sunday, Feb. 13 in SoFi Stadium.

The fourth-seeded Rams will enter as a 4.5-point favorite against fellow No. 4 seed Cincinnati, who were a +15000 longshot to win an NFL championship ahead of the 2021 season.

Despite making his first postseason appearance in just his second year in the league, quarterback Joe Burrow has his Bengals brimming with confidence and is one game away from securing the franchise's first Super Bowl title.

With rookie Ja'Marr Chase, wideout Tee Higgins, and running back Joe Mixon at Burrow's side, Cincinnati has quickly emerged as one of the more lethal offenses in the league. 

The Rams are just as deadly, though, behind the play of offseason acquisition Matthew Stafford, superstar wideout Cooper Kupp, and midseason pickup Odell Beckham Jr.

With so much talent on both offenses, this game has the potential to see points scored at a rapid rate.

Let's further examine Super Bowl LVI, as we look at the best player prop bets for the biggest game of the year.

Matthew Stafford: Over/Under 279.5 passing yards

With Stafford at the helm of LA's offense, the Rams averaged 27.1 points per contest (tied with Cincinnati for seventh in the league), and ranked fifth in passing yards per game (273.1) during the regular season.

In the playoffs, Stafford has tallied 905 passing yards, second most behind Patrick Mahomes, and has games with 330 or more yards in the Divisional Round and NFC Championship Game.

The Bengals' pass defense has been a weakness, and ranked 26th in passing yards allowed (248.4) during the regular season, but has recorded more interceptions (six) than any other team in the 2022 playoffs.

Cincy picked off Mahomes twice in the AFC Championship Game and held him to 275 yards, while Ryan Tannehill threw for 220 yards and was intercepted three times in the Divisional Round.

Stafford tied for the most interceptions (17) in the regular season, but has cut back significantly on those mistakes in the postseason. If he can play a clean game against the Bengals, he should have no issue hitting the Over on 279.5 passing yards.

Look for his passing total to dip, compared to his last two games, but expect a high-flying battle in SoFi Stadium that will push Stafford beyond 279 yards.

Pick: Over 279.5 passing yards (-112)

Cam Akers: Over/Under 64.5 rushing yards

While Cincinnati has been weak against the pass, its run defense was one of the best in the regular season (102.5 yards per outing).

The Rams have leaned on Cam Akers in the backfield since his return from an Achilles injury in Week 18 of the regular season, but the second-year back is hardly producing at the level he did in his rookie campaign.

With 54 carries across three postseason games, he has generated 151 yards (good for a 2.8 yards-per-carry average) and has not surpassed 55 yards in any of those matchups.

The Bengals gave up 83 yards to Raiders running back Josh Jacobs in the Wild Card Round, 66 yards to the Titans' D'Onta Foreman, and 65 yards to the Chiefs' Jerick McKinnon, but Akers will continue to struggle in the backfield and will hit the Under on 64.5 rushing yards.

Pick: Under 64.5 rushing yards (-112)

Cooper Kupp: Total yards of longest reception Over/Under 27.5

While Akers will likely be rendered ineffective, no defense has been able to silence Kupp this season.

Stafford's No. 1 target caught for 142 yards in the NFC Championship Game and 183 yards in the Divisional Round. He was limited to a season-low 61 yards in the Wild Card Round, but that was mainly due to the Rams building a quick lead and turning to the run game.

Kupp is not only a reliable pass-catcher, he's a dangerous deep threat, who has had a reception longer than 28 yards in all but five games across the regular season and postseason in 2021.

The Bengals defense gave up the third most passes (65) of 20 or more yards in the league, behind the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets. In the Wild Card Round, the defense surrendered a long of 26 yards to DeSean Jackson, while A.J. Brown continuously exposed the Bengals in the Divisional Round and averaged 28.4 yards per catch, including a long of 41.

The AFC Championship Game saw similar issues with Cincinnati's secondary, as Mecole Hardman got open for a 44-yard reception and Tyreek Hill reeled in a 33-yarder.

Kupp recorded a long of 29 yards on Arizona in the Wild Card Round and hauled in a 70-yarder against Tampa Bay. He should find a few open passing lanes deep in Bengals territory and hit the Over on 27.5 yards with his longest reception.

Pick: longest reception Over 27.5 yards (-118)

Tee Higgins: Over/Under 69.5 receiving yards

On Cincinnati's offense, Chase, Higgins, and Tyler Boyd have all enjoyed huge performances this season and will make life challenging for LA's pass defense, which ranked 22nd in the NFL (241.7).

Chase led his team in receiving yards (1,455), touchdown catches (13), receptions (81), and targets (128), and has posted two 100-yard games in his first postseason.

While the rookie is the star of the receiving corps, Higgins has played a major role in the offense, as well, and caught for a game-high 103 yards in the AFC Championship Game and 96 yards in the Divisional Round.

With the Rams likely to focus in primarily on Chase, Higgins should get plenty of looks from Burrow, and will hit the Over on 69.5 receiving yards against LA's spotty pass defense. 

Pick: Over 69.5 receiving yards (-112)